Introduction to Squash Rules

Rule 16 - BLEEDING, ILLNESS, DIABILITY AND INJURY

Idea by Clive Pollard

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16. BLEEDING, ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND INJURY (see flowchart in Appendix 4.2)

16.1 Bleeding: The Referee shall immediately stop play when a player has visible bleeding, an open wound or blood-stained clothing. Before allowing play to continue, the Referee must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped, the wound has been covered and any blood-stained clothing has been changed, allowing such time as is reasonable and necessary and is available on the tournament schedule.

If the bleeding was caused solely by (an action of) the opponent, the Referee shall immediately award the match to the player.
  16.1.1 Recurrence (restarting) of bleeding: If the bleeding recurs (starts again), for which recovery time has already been allowed, the Referee shall allow no further recovery time except that the player may concede the game in progress and use the 90-second interval between games for recovery (to stop the bleeding again). If the visible bleeding continues at the end of this 90-second interval, the player shall concede the match. A player may only concede one game for one 90-second interval.
If the covering of the bleeding wound falls off or is removed during the match thereby exposing the wound, the Referee shall consider this to be restarting of the bleeding, unless all sign of bleeding has stopped.
  16.2 Illness or Disability: A player suffering illness or disability not involving bleeding has the following options:

16.2.1 starting play again without delay, or

16.2.2 conceding the game in progress, accepting the 90-second interval, or

16.2.3 conceding the match.

Symptoms of tiredness, alleged illness or disability not reasonably evident to the Referee or recurrence of pre-existing ailments including injuries sustained earlier in the match shall be dealt with under Rule 16.2. This includes cramps of any kind, actual or impending nausea and breathlessness including asthma. The Referee shall inform the players of the decision and the requirements of the Rules.
  16.3 Injury

16.3.1 In the event of a player claiming an injury has occurred, the Referee must be satisfied that the injury is genuine and, if so, decide the category of injury, informing the players of the decision and of the requirements of the Rules. The player is only entitled to recovery time immediately after the injury occurred. The categories are:

16.3.1.1 self-inflicted, in which the opponent did not contribute to the injury;

16.3.1.2 contributed, in which the opponent accidentally contributed to or accidentally caused the injury. The Referee shall not interpret the words "accidentally contributed to or accidentally caused by" to include the situation in which a player is crowding the opponent.

16.3.1.3 opponent-inflicted, in which the opponent solely caused the injury.
  16.3.2 If the injury involves bleeding, Rule 16.1 shall apply until the bleeding has stopped. Then Rule 16.3.3 applies.
  16.3.3 If bleeding is not involved, the following Rules shall apply:

16.3.3.1 For a self-inflicted injury (Rule 16.3.1.1), the Referee shall allow 3 minutes for the injured player to recover. The Referee shall call "Time" at the end of the 3-minute period after giving a 15-second warning. If the player requests additional recovery time beyond 3 minutes, the Referee shall require the injured player to concede one game, accept the 90-second interval between games, and then start play again or concede the match. If the injured player has not returned to the court when "Time" is called, the Referee shall award the match to the opponent.
  16.3.3.2 For a contributed injury (Rule 16.3.1.2), the Referee shall allow one hour for the injured player to recover, and such additional time as the time schedule of the competition permits. The Referee shall call "Time" at the end of any recovery time allowed. The injured player must, by the end of this period, start play again or concede the match. If the injured player starts play again, the score at the end of the rally in which the injury occurred shall stand.
  16.3.3.3 For an opponent-inflicted injury (Rule 16.3.1.3), the Referee shall apply Rule 17 and, if the injured player requires time to recover, the Referee shall award the match to the injured player.
  16.4 If an injured player, having been granted a recovery time interval, wishes to start play again before the end of that interval, the Referee shall permit the opponent sufficient time to prepare to start play again.
  16.5 If a player claims injury and the Referee is not satisfied that an injury has occurred, the Referee shall ask the player to start play again, or concede one game, accept the 90-second interval available and then either start play again or concede the match.
  16.6 If conceding the game, the player shall retain (keep) any points already scored and at the end of the 90-second interval between games shall either start play again or concede the match.

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